Stadium “yard sale” May 21 to benefit local charities

Published: April 21, 2005

As students prepare to leave campus for the summer, the University of Notre Dame is planning its firstFrom Old to Goldyear-end campus yard sale to benefit local charities.

The event, a joint initiative with the United Way of St. Joseph County,will be held from7 a.m.to2 p.m.May 21 (Saturday) in Notre Dame Stadium and will feature items left behind and donated by students living on and off campus.

The sale is open to the public, and admission is free between9 a.m.and2 p.m.A $5early birdadmission will be charged for those wishing to shop in the stadium between 7 and9 a.m.There is no charge for children 12 and under.

This new program affords students an opportunity to give back to the local community in which they have studied and lived during their time at Notre Dame,said project organizer Alan Bigger, director of Building Services.

Students will donate items in serviceable condition to be collected, organized, priced and sold byvolunteers from local charities.All net revenues, as well as any unsold items will be donated to the participating charities.Organizers hope to raise $25,000, collect food to be distributed to local food banks, and divert an estimated 35 tons of items from area landfills.

In past years, residence halls have set up collection points for studentsunwanted goods, then charities have been invited to collect them.However, many useable items still were being discarded.

After discussing ways to streamline this process, we looked at best practices at different colleges and universities,Bigger said.Last May we sent a team toPennStateUniversityto observe its successful Trash to Treasureprogram, and there found the model for Notre Dames inaugural event for 2005.

More than 25 campus departments have offered support and resources for the program.